St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-01-13
HE SENATE.
Bills Reported and Referred. THE
Interstate Commerce Report.

Interstate Commerce R epOrt.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-Mr. Hoar. from
the committee on claims, reported the SEN
ate bill to extend the time for filing claims
i'll the court Of claims under the French
spoliation act for twelve months additional.
and on his motion the bill was considered
and passed. Mr.. Malone, from the com
mittee on public buildings, reported bills
for public buildings at Jefferson, Tex. and
Hastings. Neb. Calendar-Mr. Henderson
introduced bill to facilitate promotions
and to retire from active service. on their
own application, officers of the army who
served during the war of the Rebellion
three years as officers or enlisted men in
the volunteer or regular army. Referred.
Mr.. Dolph. from the committee on coast
defenSeS. reported (as an amendment
to be offered, an item appropriating SIS. OOO,-
600 for the construction of Notifications and
other works of defense. Ordered printed.
On motion of Mr.. Platt the senate bill au-
thorzing settlement of the claim of Hiram
Berdan, assignee of the Berdan Fire Arms
company. for the use by the government of
the Berdan improvement in fire arms, was
taken up and after some discussion passed
Mr.. Allison, from the committee on appro-
priations, reported back the
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
with amendments. Ordered printed. On
motion of Mr.. ingalls,, the senate bill to
amend section 8. 749 of the revised statutes
i'll regard to renting or selling government
property was taken up and passed. The
senate then. at lis. resumed consideration
OF the interstate commerce bill, and was adj
dressed by Mr.. Call, who declared his con-
currence in the great objects of public
nOIiay hot ft, hn ia1 int
effect by the original bill and by the confer
ence report. Mr.. ingalls, expressed the hope
that Mr.. Cullom would not insist on
vote to day. The debate had developed
in the press and other organs of public opin-
ion. a feeling of intense interest and much
had been expressed which he regarded as
profitable to those who were engaged in
the consideration of the subject. Mr.. Call
referred to the fact stated in the work of
Mr.. Pool that the capitalization of the rail
roads OF the country exceeded their actual
cost by So, 600. 600. 900 and complained that
the rates charged for transportation was to
pay interest and dividends on this fictitious
and pretended capital. The people were
now paying an annual tax of $500, 900. 600
on this fictitious capital. He could see
nothing in that (f it were permitted to con-
tinue) but the ruin of the republic No
regulation OF interstate commerce could be
made that permitted this
ENORMOUS ANNUAL TAX.
Did the conference report propose to
remedy this evil? 1t did not. On the con-
trary it implicitly licensed it, in failing to
provide any remedy for it. The reason
able rates. sought to be established by the
bill should be reasonable rates"
calculated on the amount actually
invested in the construction and operation
of the railroads. If that could not be DONE
then the bill was futile. He was in favor
of going much further than the bill went
He was in favor of law declaring that rate
only reasonable RATE" which permitted a
fair return on the capital actually invested
in railroads. He would. however vote for
the pending bill because it would accom-
plish no great harm. But he regarded it as
no remedy for the existing evils and as no
triumph for those who desired to see inter-
state commerce regulated. Although he
would vote for the bill, he would prefer to
have it further considered by the confer
ence committee. Mr.. Brown made an
argument in opposition to the bill. With
out coming to vote the senate adjourned.